Spending the day at Splash Station or driving to Cleburne State Park for a lake day are popular summer activities for a reason; they’re fun ways to beat the summer heat.
If you predict a lot of swimming days in your future, take a look at our tips for preventing and treating a common outer ear infection called swimmer’s ear.
Preventing Swimmer’s Ear
Swimmer’s ear arises when water gets trapped in the ear canal, creating the perfect environment for bacteria or fungi to grow. Swimming in untreated water will increase your risk of developing the infection. The condition is most common in kids aged seven to 14,[1] but it can affect people of all ages.
Because swimmer’s ear most often arises after spending time in the water, reducing the amount of water in your ear, especially untreated water, is the best way to prevent the infection.
In addition to choosing treated water, consider the following tips to safeguard against swimmer’s ear:
- Towel dry your outer ear
- Drain water from your ears after swimming by tilting your head to one side and gently tugging on your earlobe; repeat on the other side
- If you still feel water in your ear, turn your head to one side and use a blow dryer on a cool setting, held at least a foot from your ear, to evaporate the water
- Wear earplugs if you’re swimming laps
Never use cotton swabs to dry your ears. Sticking things in your ears is more likely to rupture an eardrum than do any good.
Treating Swimmer’s Ear
Our prevention tips will lower your chance of developing swimmer’s ear, but there’s no foolproof way to prevent it entirely. If you do develop swimmer’s ear, we can use antibiotic or antifungal eardrops to clear the infection and steroid eardrops to reduce inflammation. You may also need over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen to manage discomfort.
Swimmer’s ear won’t go away on its own, so early identification and treatment are crucial. Keep an eye out for the following symptoms:
- A feeling of fullness in the ear
- Ear pain or itchiness in the ear canal
- Fluid draining from the ear
- Redness and swelling in the visible part of the ear
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Muffled hearing
If you notice any of the above symptoms, call Benke Ear Nose & Throat Clinic to schedule an appointment with one of our specialists.
[1] Cleveland Clinic. (2024). Swimmer’s ear (otitis externa): Symptoms & care. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/8381-swimmers-ear-otitis-externa